Any more information on "Cowper's Poetical Works"? It seems like a sunprint was done on the maple wood, but how? Perhaps it's a cyanotype, but I would have assumed that the chemicals required for this process would hurt the wood.

That maple surface is decorated with what's known as Mauchline Ware (after the Scottish town where it was first popularised - developed by accident - in the 19th century) which seems to be made with transfers and application of lacquer. [I say 'seems' simply because I couldn't find, on quick look, a good definition]. My guess is that a print was first made on paper and that paper was applied to the wood or it was used as a tracing guide.

See the preview pages from 'Mauchline Ware and associated Scottish Souvenir Ware' by John Baker, 2004 on google books [Amazon]

The back cover [source] of Cowper's Poetical Works is here. [see also here & here for Mauchlineware background]

If you like these - you might enjoy Publishers' Bindings Online: http://bindings.lib.ua.edu/

Find out more about the project itself: http://www.spellboundblog.com/2007/09/22/saa2007-publishers%E2%80%99-bindings-online-digitization-collaboration-standardization-and-community-building-session-707/

Thanks Jeanne. I have to admit I can't recall whether I've seen that site or not (my bandwidth is throttled for a couple more days because of zealous youtube activity so I'm reluctant to have a good look around at the mo'). Also, it's about time I added your blog feed to my reader and the site to my links page! Cheers.

I do believe I'm in love with this page for sure! There are members of my family who have there own little collections of treasured items books and covers they love. This page reminds me of them. Thank you, this is very beautiful.